WEBVTT 00:00:02.640 --> 00:00:05.280 Thank you for joining us on the CCW podcast. 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:11.119 Make sure you connect with us on social media to stay up to date on ministries and events happening at CCW. 00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:15.039 We hope you're encouraged, inspired, and motivated by today's message. 00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:19.120 To find out how to connect with us, keep listening after the message ends. 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:25.359 Good morning, CCW. 00:00:27.359 --> 00:00:28.480 Happy Sunday. 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:29.839 You made it. 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:32.960 Happy anniversary to the Websters. 00:00:39.119 --> 00:00:42.159 Thank thankful all of you are here today. 00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:50.560 This weekend was a pretty big weekend for people in Chelsea or associated maybe with uh Samford College. 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:56.479 It was uh Parent Weekend, so we were running around with that, and it was Homecoming Weekend. 00:00:56.640 --> 00:01:04.000 So many of you that had kids at Chelsea, beautiful pictures and all their dresses and outfits and all of that. 00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:06.719 So it's been a good busy. 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:09.680 Y'all like, is good busy okay? 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:11.840 There is some bad busy. 00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:14.959 Well, part of that was Friday. 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:19.439 My wife and some folks from the church helped cook the meal for the football team. 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:24.239 And Heather's cooking gets me more opportunity to share the gospel than about anything. 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:28.879 And so got to share the gospel with 140 football players. 00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:36.159 And I just want to show you briefly the illustration I use because it has to do with this morning's message as well. 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:43.519 In 1 Samuel chapter 16, verse 7, it says that man looks on the outward appearance. 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:51.519 We are constantly looking at people, and we're using the tape to measure up on what we see. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:02:15.199 We're looking at the exterior of things, and we're looking at a person and their build, yes, they're by their outward appearance, their clothes, their hair, their beauty, but we're looking at their lawn, we're looking at their cars, we're looking at their home, and everything that we see in culture constantly is being measured by the tape. 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:17.919 The outward appearance is measured by the tape. 00:02:18.080 --> 00:02:24.400 And I want to submit to you the rest of that verse that we're missing. 00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:28.400 It says the outside appearance is measured by the tape. 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:30.240 What God says. 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:36.800 Man judges by the outside appearance. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:45.680 But what really matters today is you that leave here how you are measuring up inside. 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:47.759 And so I want to challenge you with that. 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:49.280 I challenge a football team with that. 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:49.919 Praise God. 00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:57.599 We had five or six respond to the gospel, and uh, it was a great, great way to start the weekend. 00:02:57.759 --> 00:02:58.560 But amen. 00:03:04.159 --> 00:03:06.639 But I started this sermon series on identity. 00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:08.800 When you look in the mirror, what do you see? 00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:25.120 The very first time that I explored this subject was around 2008, and I was speaking to 12 to 17 year olds, and I had this thought as I was looking back at this this week is I don't know if this will resonate the same way with adults. 00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:26.800 Then I looked at some statistics. 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:27.840 Listen to this. 00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:35.680 In 2022, cosmetic surgery in the United States raked in$26 billion. 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:43.599 $76 billion was shelled out in the diet industry. 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:45.919 Hear this sobering statistic. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:54.479 In the United States, 35% of adults in a survey reported depression due to body image. 00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:58.639 And even 13% reported suicidal thoughts. 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:02.319 You can look at headline after headline because it goes all the way down the line. 00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:04.159 This is one 14-year-old. 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:10.719 Nadia Ilse made news for having$40,000 worth of cosmetic surgery. 00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:21.120 This was a sad survey statistic, so it goes across all generations, but this is one that said 80% of 10-year-olds reported the desire to be thinner. 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:30.160 And you may be here today and you may say, Pastor, I think I have a right and healthy, godly mentality of my image. 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:42.800 But I would submit that your grandchild or your son or your daughter or your neighbor or someone sitting really close to you is struggling very much so on the outside. 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:49.279 So with that in mind, would you pray with me and then take your Bibles and turn them to Matthew chapter 23? 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:54.240 Father, I ask that you would speak to our hearts this morning. 00:04:55.439 --> 00:05:00.639 Lord, help us as we judge by the scope and not the tape. 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:03.920 Lord, you know the content of our heart where we're at. 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:12.160 And God, as we look at outside versus inside, Lord, I pray that you would draw us to the truth and help every person here. 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:15.920 God, we are created in the image of Almighty God. 00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:24.879 And I pray that as we walk out today with a view of identity, that it would be a healthy view based on our Savior and not our culture. 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:26.879 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:32.800 Matthew chapter 23, if you'll turn there, the first point this morning is an outward appearance. 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:36.399 Verse 25 through 28. 00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:48.959 This is the woes that Jesus is giving to the Pharisees, and this is just a few of them, and it says, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:58.800 For ye cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they're full of extortion and self-indulgence. 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:05.600 Blind Pharisee first cleansed the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside may be clean also. 00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:21.040 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but the inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:22.720 Outward appearance. 00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:29.279 Heather and I were married just for a short time, and I came walking through the apartment. 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:34.160 Man, we had a two-bedroom swank corner apartment with a lake. 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:35.040 I mean, it was beautiful. 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:39.199 It was$1,200 and$2,000 and whatever it was, five. 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:47.360 So we're, I mean, this was, and I walked in the house in the apartment, and the whole place smelled delightful. 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:51.519 Y'all ever come home and whatever's being cooked, you're just like, wow. 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:53.040 I mean, it was a satiating. 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:55.439 It was in the curtains, it was in the carpet. 00:06:55.600 --> 00:07:00.720 And I walked over and I'm like, oh, praise the Lord, chicken parmesan. 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:03.600 This will be a great Friday night. 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:08.800 And I went over there and I sat down and I could feel myself almost drooling. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:10.160 I was so excited. 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:19.920 And we prayed, and I began using my fork and knife, and I grabbed a bite and I put it in my mouth, and I smiled at my beautiful bride. 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:21.920 And I began to chew. 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:26.480 And I thought, something's wrong with this chicken. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:36.399 But I gave her the benefit of doubt, and I dug in and I took the second bite, and I thought, this chicken can't beat chicken. 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:39.920 And she had a little smirk on her face over there looking at me. 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:43.360 And I said, baby, something's wrong with the chicken. 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:45.600 She said, it's eggplant. 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:49.920 Eggplant? 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:56.160 Why would anybody put all of this good cheese and sauce on top of eggplant? 00:07:56.240 --> 00:07:59.279 I never had eggplant in my life before. 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:01.759 And I don't think I've had it since. 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:18.160 Jesus said, woe to you who clean up, who measure up on the outside. 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:21.920 But what's right about the inside? 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:23.519 Letter A. 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:26.639 I want to talk to you about the shell of a man. 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:31.680 The real you, church, is renting a shell. 00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:35.919 You are a steward of something God created. 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:43.360 1 Corinthians 6 19 says, For what know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:46.240 For you're not your own, but you were bought with a price. 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:51.759 Therefore, glorify God in your body and your heart, which are his. 00:08:52.480 --> 00:08:55.600 This is a shell that's your inside of you. 00:08:55.679 --> 00:09:00.960 Are an eternal being living a human experience one day that's going to end with eternity. 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:04.000 This right here is a shell. 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:07.519 But the Holy Spirit abides in that shell. 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:12.480 Another place in Scripture calls it a vessel, and you're God's vessel to be taken care of. 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:17.200 But hear me, the vessel is not to be idolized. 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:26.240 Many, many people today spend countless hours on the rental, on the shell. 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:33.200 And hear me, I go to the gym, I desire strength and health, and I want my wife to like me. 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:40.399 But many here have deep struggles with the shell. 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:52.799 And some of you have hard pasts and you've had difficult people that have said words that made you look at that shell and feel disgusted. 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:54.559 Words have hurt you. 00:09:54.639 --> 00:09:56.080 You've believed some lies. 00:09:56.240 --> 00:10:02.720 Some of you have looked on your phone and you've seen something and you've believed this lie that you're not enough. 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:11.200 And you've gone down and you've seen this person and you've judged yourself based on them, and you've looked at a magazine and you're believing lies about the shell. 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:13.519 And it is a difficult thing. 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:15.759 Let me help some of you today. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:16.960 This is where I took it. 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:20.480 Bear with me with teenagers long ago, but I think it applies. 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:24.960 There are three body types, and there's a picture that we have of the body types. 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:25.440 Okay? 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:29.759 Nothing you can do at all about these types. 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:33.519 It's just the type of shell you are, and you're one of them. 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:42.399 There's an ectomorph, which is thin and lean and has a fast metabolism, and everybody with a slow metabolism goes, I can't stand that. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:51.200 And then there's a mesomorph, which is the athletic build, and has a medium metabolism, and they're just medium. 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:55.440 And then there's the endomorph, which is stocky people, slower metabolism. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:55.919 Okay? 00:10:56.080 --> 00:11:02.000 There's nothing on planet earth that you can do about the structure of the shell. 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:04.799 Your genetics play all of that role. 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:05.360 Okay? 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:07.120 And in other, uh let me help you. 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:12.960 In other words, not I know this, I don't want to shock people today, but for some of you, you need to know this. 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:15.440 I'm not gonna look like Arnold Schwarzenegger. 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:18.799 I know that's hard, okay? 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:24.080 I work on my accent for Heather because she likes his movies, but I I'm not gonna look like Arnold. 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:27.120 And that's just the reality of the show. 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:32.879 Now you can, I used to say this, Tina, you can and should be the best version of you. 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:42.000 Like, be fragrant, be showered, be deodorized, be the best version of you. 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:46.480 You are the temple of the Holy Spirit. 00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:55.200 But I believe this because of culture with beauty and body, the shaming is incessant. 00:11:55.519 --> 00:11:59.039 People will say things like this constantly I wish I had a different nose. 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:00.559 I wish I had that eye color. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:02.559 You've got curly hair, I wish I had straight hair. 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:05.519 You've got really straight, pretty hair, I wish I had that kind of hair. 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:08.559 And you look at this and look at that, and this is what I believe. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:11.200 It is the distorted work of the enemy. 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:19.519 It's an agenda to get you looking at what God has already done and being dissatisfied. 00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:22.399 And it doesn't just work in those light things, right? 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:23.600 It goes deeper. 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:28.720 We're in a culture now where the enemy wishes for a girl to have a statement like this. 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:31.759 Boy, I wish I looked more like a boy. 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:36.720 Guys say, I wish I looked more like a girl. 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:41.519 I wish my body looked, and it's an evil that the enemy has spoken. 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:43.679 Let me tell you what the Bible has to say to that. 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:45.679 Romans 12, 1 and 2. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:55.919 It says, Be not conformed, don't conform this to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:58.240 Be transformed. 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:02.480 This is where the Bible allows trans, church. 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:04.480 He said, transform your mind. 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:08.159 Don't change your body, change your mind. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:09.440 Are you hearing me, church? 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:13.200 He says, because your thinking is wrong, so that's what needs to be changed. 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:16.639 You don't have to change anything that God created in the show. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:18.720 He said, transform your mind. 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:22.559 You're looking at what God created through a polluted lens. 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:28.960 God created it, and he declared this it is very good. 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:39.840 Now the enemy wants to whisper all kinds of other things to you, but I want to tell you this it was very good, and God yet to this day and never will make a mistake. 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:42.159 He can't make a mistake. 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:47.200 So you got to transform the way that you think about the show. 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:51.919 Some of you it's little things, but it's nitpicky, you look in the mirror. 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:53.360 Some of you it's big things. 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:59.759 But I want to tell you, you have to learn to be comfortable in this skin because it is the skin that God gave you. 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:02.159 And it was the plan that he had for you. 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:07.600 Now, again, be the best version of it, but you are the only you that there's ever gonna be. 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:10.720 So that was the shell of a man. 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:12.720 Letter B is the show of a man. 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:16.879 Why don't you take your Bibles and turn to 1 Peter chapter 3? 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:20.320 The show. 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:26.080 There's the shell that we don't have a whole lot of control over. 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:29.360 This part maybe a little more. 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:42.879 1 Peter 3, 3 through 4 says, Do not let your adornment be merely outward, arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel. 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:57.039 Rather, listen to verse 4, let it be the hidden person of the heart with incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 00:14:58.159 --> 00:14:59.600 The show of man. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:08.320 Eve's Laurent, a fashion designer, said this: fashions fade, but style is eternal. 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:10.559 Wow. 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:14.799 That's the culture that we're presenting. 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:17.840 Your style, this goes on. 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:18.960 I can see it now. 00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:22.799 There's going to be runways in heaven, according to Eve's. 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:25.120 Style goes on forever. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:31.840 But this is 1 Peter, Greco-Roman culture, appearance was equated with value and status. 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:34.960 Have we changed much, church? 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:36.159 Honestly. 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:45.519 Have we gotten so far from Greco-Roman culture that style, appearance does not equate value and status? 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:49.840 Jesus said, you adorn the outside. 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:53.840 The word adorn is the word cosmeo. 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:58.159 Sound familiar where we get the word cosmetics. 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:01.679 He says it's not about outward adornment. 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:04.960 It's not about hair or jewelry. 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:06.799 He says, beauty is not those. 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:09.600 But look again, transversely, verse 4. 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:12.559 He says, rather, don't look at those things. 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:14.000 That is not the adornment. 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:15.360 That is not what beauty is. 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:20.080 But rather, what is hidden, not the show. 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:21.679 The show is not what's beautiful. 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:26.159 He said, what is hidden is the actual showcase of who you are. 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:29.679 Your clothes is not the showcase of who you are. 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:35.360 The things you have, the car you drive, that is not actually the showcase of who you are. 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:38.720 Your real adornment, your real beauty is on the inside. 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:41.919 He says it's a gentle and quiet spirit. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:45.519 Doesn't that sound like the opposite of being showy? 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:46.480 Right? 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:52.799 You hear people say they're audacious or they're bold or they're showy or gaudy. 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:58.480 But he says, in other words, beauty is nothing about the outward show. 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:00.879 It starts with the inward person. 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:03.600 But let's talk about that adornment. 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:05.759 This is just practical, okay? 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:07.599 This isn't, this is me. 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:13.359 This isn't, you're not gonna find these words in the Bible, but I looked up what is the purpose for clothing? 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.799 The adornment. 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:18.960 Clothing's purpose is for protection, comfort, and standards. 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:19.519 Okay? 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:21.680 Protection, comfort, and standards. 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:23.279 I'm just gonna say this, okay? 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:29.519 There's nothing, this man speaking there's nothing comfortable about anything that's labeled skinny. 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:30.000 Okay. 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:33.039 You're not wrong if you wear something skinny. 00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:34.960 You can wear it, but it ain't comfortable. 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:35.440 Okay? 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:38.160 I'm just saying, I don't own skinny things. 00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:38.720 Okay? 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:47.200 If you have to lay down on a bed to button it, and there's a chance that button explodes. 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:49.920 That ain't comfort. 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:52.720 I'm not, listen, I'm not being legalistic. 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:54.240 I grew up in legalism. 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:59.680 My mom would not wear the long pants on the church property, and my dad wouldn't wear the short ones. 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:01.759 Right? 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:03.599 So I understand that. 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:16.640 And when Heather and I moved to Calvary Baptist Church in Connorsville, and we were in the ministry, we went from like a um white-collar type of business casual church to the country. 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:21.599 And we walked in the first Sunday, and I'm walking by and I'm looking at the choir, and I was like, oh my. 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:24.480 So I guess this is how we're gonna be doing church now. 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:29.599 There was Doug McDaniel in his jeans in the church choir. 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:32.400 And I thought, this is how we're doing church. 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:34.480 We have got a lot of work to do, Heather. 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:37.119 We have better start praying. 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:38.960 And the McDaniel's top of the list. 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:40.559 Jeans in the choir. 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:42.880 I know you're looking at me today, right? 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:45.519 You got some praying to do, I guess. 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:52.480 But first, Timothy said this, this way. 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:55.680 1 Timothy 2.9. 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:57.839 A woman shall not wear. 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:00.079 I'm sorry, that's Deuteronomy. 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:04.240 1 Timothy 2.9 says, Women adorn themselves in modest apparel. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:08.640 But what I want you to catch there for everyone, women and man is modest apparel. 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:19.039 The word modest, again, cosmios, we get our word like cosmetic, means orderly, respectable, and dignified. 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:23.119 When you walk out of your home, this should be your check. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:25.200 Is what I'm wearing dignified? 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:28.640 When it comes to modesty, modesty is a heart issue. 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:32.880 What is the motive behind what you've got on? 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:35.359 I've said this many times. 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:36.400 Hear me. 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:44.160 Be careful how you look to others, and be careful how you look at others. 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:46.319 Hear me, married people. 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:51.839 Be careful how you look to others, and be careful how you look at others. 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:55.440 Deuteronomy says this, and all I can do is just agree with this. 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:57.359 Deuteronomy 22, verse 5. 00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:05.759 It says, A woman shall not wear what pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment. 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:08.079 And I can't add or subtract. 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:13.119 Just you should dress like you're supposed to dress. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:17.759 But this is more than clothing, this idea. 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:20.160 This describes all things external. 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:22.079 What are the externals about you? 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:24.000 How are you measuring up? 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:25.599 This is our homes? 00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:27.440 Is it dignified? 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:29.200 Is it about an outward show? 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:30.720 Our cars, is it dignified? 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:31.359 Our luggage? 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:33.200 Everything external. 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:36.720 The way that we live on the outside matters. 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:38.720 I want to just ask you a question. 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:48.559 When you think about your image of yourself and the life you've had, is there anybody that'd be honest and say, man, I have struggled before with image? 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:50.720 Some point in my life I have struggled. 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:52.720 Church, you're in good company. 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:54.240 Many hands. 00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:57.680 Well, what can we do to help this? 00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:01.759 Second point this morning, an inward authenticity. 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:04.640 I want you to go back to 1 Samuel. 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:07.200 An inward authenticity. 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:13.599 You can go to chapter 16, chapter 9. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:18.000 You can hold your place and we'll go up to 17. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:21.359 An inward authenticity. 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:27.759 I quoted that verse, but it says, Man looks on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart, inward. 00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:32.000 Letter A, we're going to share a contrast of Saul and David. 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:35.359 Israel decided that they wanted to have a king. 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:36.720 And they pressed and pressed. 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:42.559 And Samuel the prophet continued on looking for God's chosen man. 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:47.519 And we see 1 Samuel chapter 9, verses 1 through 3. 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:49.279 Contrast of Saul and David. 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:59.119 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abel, the son of Zerah, the son of Bacharath, the son of all of these people with weird names. 00:21:59.440 --> 00:21:59.759 And 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:05.039 And he had a choice and handsome son, verse 2, whose name was Saul. 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:08.480 There was not a more handsome person than he. 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:10.079 What a definition. 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:11.680 Among the children of Israel. 00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:15.440 From his shoulders upward, he was taller than any of the people. 00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:21.279 Now the donkeys of Kishal's fathers were lost, and Kish said to his son, Saul, please take one of the servants with you. 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:24.480 Arise, go and look for the donkeys. 00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:28.000 What a description of somebody. 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:32.799 Like anybody here said, if you wanted to make a description of me, I like that one. 00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:36.880 He says, There was not a more handsome or taller man. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:38.799 The word for handsome is Tove. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:46.000 In the King James Version, ladies, it says he was goodly, and none were goodlier. 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:52.799 I want you ladies to look at your husband right now if he's there with you and say, Boy, you are goodly. 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:55.200 Who's so goodly? 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:58.160 He's gonna buy you anything you want for lunch. 00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:02.240 Big tall Saul. 00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:03.839 This is how he's defined. 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:08.160 Big tall Saul, I mean, he was a tall drink of water. 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:10.480 Heather's always saying that about me. 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:17.680 This same big tall Saul had his moment. 00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:19.039 Right? 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:34.960 We see fast forward that Goliath comes on the scene and he's barking out at the Israelites, and the same big, tall, handsome Saul, taller than the rest, Saul, that same Saul refused to fight Goliath of the Philistines. 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.240 Hear me. 00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:46.240 The biggest and the tallest, the warrior and king, had an opportunity to make a statement on the world's grandest scene. 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:50.960 And in his big moment, Goliath is out there just dogging them. 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:54.160 Goliath whistles and says, Who's ready for a fight? 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:58.480 And Saul goes, D'all hear him? 00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:01.279 Which one of y'all is ready for a fight? 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:04.079 He says, Who will fight me? 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:06.960 And Saul's like, Who will fight him? 00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:11.599 He goes to David and he says, Here's my armor. 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:12.880 Good luck. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:18.240 Saul looked like he would be the full package as a king. 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:25.119 On the outside, if you were judging Saul by 1 Samuel chapter 9, this was the guy. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:26.799 This was who would represent us. 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:28.960 Big, tall, strong, and handsome. 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:34.240 But on the inside, Saul was fearful. 00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:37.200 On the inside, Saul was disobedient. 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:42.400 On the inside, we would see later that Saul becomes jealous, insecure. 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:44.960 Oh, on the outside, things were right. 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:50.240 The outside of the dish was white and beautiful, and outside was clean. 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.720 But he was self-centered. 00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:55.680 He was unrepentant. 00:24:56.720 --> 00:25:03.200 The world saw the outside and it looked right, but on the inside, Saul had some struggles. 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:08.720 In comes 1 Samuel chapter 16, David. 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:12.640 Look at verse 11 and 12. 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:18.000 Samuel went to Jesse looking for one of his children. 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:24.160 Samuel went through the gamut, child after child, and verse 11. 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:28.079 And Samuel said to Jesse, Are all of the young men here? 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:34.960 Then he said, There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping sheep. 00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:41.920 And Samuel said to Jesse, Send and bring him, for he will not sit down till he comes here. 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:43.920 So he sent and brought him in. 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:48.319 Now he was ruddy with bright eyes and good looking. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:53.039 And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him, for this is the one. 00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:55.039 The contrast. 00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:59.039 Big, tall, Saul, warrior king. 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:08.559 There's a boy in the corner, hidden, the lowest of the low of all the brothers, tending to the nastiest of animals. 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:10.480 Just over there out in the pasture. 00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:13.279 He's little, he's scrappy. 00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:15.519 He's probably like five foot five. 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.720 He's cute. 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:20.000 And he's just out there. 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:22.960 There is David, shepherd boy. 00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:26.000 When the guys went to battle, he was the cheese carrier. 00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:28.240 He showed up with grilled cheese sandwiches. 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:30.240 Youngest, he was cute. 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:33.599 But not a man like King Saul. 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:42.559 In fact, they thought in chapter 16, verse 6, that it may be Eliab, his oldest brother. 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:48.799 He said, So it was when they came to him that looked at Eliab and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him. 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:50.640 It wasn't him. 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:54.079 Wasn't the oldest, wasn't the strong. 00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:57.839 Samuel was looking at those things, making the same mistake. 00:26:57.920 --> 00:27:01.039 And I shared this with the football team. 00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:06.079 Um Heather's mother married a man named Frank Andrews. 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:12.160 And when I met Frank, I knew just a little bit, but I had the tape. 00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:16.400 And what I knew about Frank was he was quadriplegic. 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:18.559 Frank had ALS. 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:24.640 And the sad reality of Frank's situation was Frank was dying. 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:29.920 And everything that I looked at when I saw Frank, I had the tape. 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:33.920 And I listen, I'm not, I'm not glad that I was like this. 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:37.680 But I thought, how is this gonna work? 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:41.359 How is this relationship gonna work? 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:49.680 How and I and I looked at and I judged all this stuff about this man that I did not know. 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:53.680 I'm not saying I'd talk to anybody, I did it from the inside. 00:27:54.240 --> 00:28:03.759 But when I got to know Frank, Frank was one of the most incredible people that I've ever met. 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:09.759 Frank taught me in the first eight hours, they put me with him for eight hours and left and went shopping. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:12.160 And I'm like, what am I gonna be doing with this man? 00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:15.279 He had me build stilts for all the grandchildren. 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:16.960 I'm not a woodworker. 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:20.720 I can't believe the things I did with Frank. 00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:22.960 But he was an engineer. 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:26.000 Frank taught me how to build campfires. 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:27.599 Frank was so patient. 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:31.519 Frank, in here was something else. 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:35.039 The outside, I couldn't stand what had happened. 00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:37.680 And those that loved him, I know it felt the same. 00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:41.039 But here, man, it was so good. 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:49.119 And I think often we'll make a mistake like that. 00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:53.519 Nice clothes don't mean a nice person. 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:58.640 A good bit of money doesn't mean kind. 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:02.720 Popularity doesn't mean nice. 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:09.759